McAfee close to storming off set as ‘disgraceful’ – Sports News
Pat McAfee welcomed ESPN Insider Adam Schefter onto his show Thursday afternoon, and the 2 wrapped up an prolonged section discussing the approaching rift between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association.
McAfee described it as a “disgrace,” prompting Pat McAfee Show common Boston Connor to craft a well-timed segue. “Speaking of disgrace,” he stated earlier than informing the host that Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes had failed to make it by the primary inning of his 2026 MLB Season Opener.
Skenes, the reigning Cy Young Award winner and a standout for Team USA on the 2026 World Baseball Classic, was pulled by Pirates supervisor Don Kelly with two outs within the first inning after surrendering 5 runs towards the New York Mets. McAfee, who grew up much less than 20 miles from Pittsburgh, was livid and practically stormed off the ESPN set upon listening to the information. It got here after MLB followers raged at Netflix over streaming points on Opening Night.
Skenes struggled along with his control within the first inning, strolling two batters and hitting one other. He was additionally let down by shortstop-turned-centerfielder Oneil Cruz.
Cruz took his initial step inward — a cardinal sin in baseball — and allowed a Brett Baty line drive to turn into a three-run triple. On the very subsequent play, the 26 yr outdated Dominican misplaced a routine fly ball within the solar, permitting one more run to rating.
“A player on the Savannah Bananas catches that and does a backflip,” McAfee stated of Cruz’s missed catch. Boston Connor remarked, “The World Baseball Classic curse is real,” following Skenes’ early exit from the sport.
The Pirates ace made historical past as the primary reigning Cy Young Award winner unable to full the opening inning of his initial begin the next season. This got here simply sooner or later after New York Yankees energy hitter Aaron Judge went hitless in his season opener, placing out 4 occasions and experiencing his first Opening Day with out a hit in his skilled profession.
The Pirates have not superior to the playoffs since 2015, when the Chicago Cubs eradicated them in a single-game National League Wild Card matchup. Before their profitable stretch from 2013 to 2015, Pittsburgh endured 20 consecutive seasons with dropping information. During a fall go to to ESPN’s College SportDay, McAfee criticized long-time proprietor Bob Nutting.
“Well, what’s going on with the Pirates is that they don’t spend any money, so they never actually win, you see, and we’ve got Paul Skenes, so we would like to go on a historic run at PNC Park, the most beautiful ballpark in the MLB,” he acknowledged in November as a aircraft towing a banner that learn “Sell the Team” (referring to the Pirates) handed overhead.
As “Sell the team” chants erupted, McAfee concurred. “Yeah, that’s what they’re saying,” he informed the assembled crowd.
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